The power of your baby's first 1000 days

Remember that moment when you first found out you were pregnant? The happiness and feelings of love that coursed through your whole being were like nothing you’ve ever experienced before.

You, like every mum, only want to give your child the best, right from the start of that life changing nine-month journey. But did you know that this powerful maternal instinct to nurture and cherish actually has a scientific basis to it?

Come on a journey with us as we describe the importance of your baby’s first 1000 days – a fascinating theory that tells you just how important good nutrition is both for you and your baby.

We also share how you can ensure both you and baby get proper nutrition during pregnancy and after.

Click ‘start gallery’ now to start reading.

Your baby’s first 1000 days

Your child's first 1000 days span the period between the conception of a child to his second birthday. In this period, both your child's brain and body see rapid and remarkable development as shown by research conducted over decades.

According to obstetrician Dr Ting Hua Sieng of Parkway East Hospital, this period is very important because your baby is growing rapidly and also the internal organs/structures are still maturing.

Thus, optimal nutrition is essential in enabling your baby to reach his full potential in the later years.

What's the link between your nutrition and baby's during pregnancy? Keep reading to find out.

The link between mummy’s and baby’s nutrition during pregnancy and after

During pregnancy, your baby is nourished by you via your placenta, which is why it is important that you eat well and sensibly during this time.

A great way of boosting the nutrients you and your baby get in these nine months is by adding a good maternal milk to your diet.

To understand how poor nutrition in pregnancy can affect your baby for life, click 'next'.

What happens when mummy doesn’t eat well during pregnancy?

You now know that your baby’s good health (often for a lifetime) is established while you are pregnant.

However, it’s not just a child’s future health that will be impacted by poor maternal nutrition – the negative effects can be almost immediate for both mummy and baby, says Dr Ting.

She explains that if a pregnant woman doesn’t eat well for a prolonged period of time, she may start to lose weight, while becoming anaemic, lethargic and more prone to infections.

What’s more, the developing baby may also show signs of growth retardation during routine scans (a smaller than expected abdominal circumference with normal head size).

This, coupled with mum’s poor health, may result in a complicated pregnancy and possible post-birth issues for mummy and baby.

What nutrition mistakes do pregnant mums often make? Go to the next slide to find out - and how to avoid these too.

Common pregnancy nutrition mistakes mums make and how to avoid them

According to Dr Ting, the main nutrition mistake pregnant mums make is thinking they have to eat for two persons. Rather than nourishing mummy and baby in a balanced way, this is likely to lead to excessive weight gain and predispose the mum to developing gestational diabetes during pregnancy.

Giving into cravings all the time is another mistake pregnant mums make. Eating that calorie-laden donut once in a while is okay, but three of them every day – a big nutrition no-no.

The third nutrition blunder some women make is dieting during pregnancy. Not eating enough is as bad as eating too much as it may equally compromise the health of both mum and baby.

Mums-to-be, remember in pregnancy, your diet should be balanced and you should be eating regularly. All pregnant mums should make sure to include carbohydrates, proteins, fruits and vegetables in their daily meals. Taking prebiotics will also benefit both mummy and baby during this time.

At the same time, do try to avoid alcohol and cut right down on caffeine consumption during pregnancy. Replace these and sugary soft drinks with a good maternal milk instead, knowing that you are only adding to your and your baby’s good nutrition by doing so.

Don’t forget to also drink plenty of water so that you stay well-hydrated.

New mums make nutrition mistakes too. Find out what these are and how to avoid them on the next slide.

Common post-partum nutrition mistakes mums make and how to avoid them

Once you have your baby, it’s important to avoid common new-mum nutrition mistakes as well.

First, don’t try to lose your pregnancy weight too fast by going on extreme diets. This is bad for both you and your little one. You will regain your pre-pregnancy weight naturally, even though it may take some time.

However, if you are anxious about losing the weight, speak to your doctor or a nutritionist for professional advice.

Another nutrition mistake new mums make is skipping meals, simply because they are too busy with looking after their baby. We understand that sometimes you may truly be strapped for time to eat, but if this becomes a habit, your body will go into ‘starvation mode’; storing fat instead of losing it.

Mums, remember that maintaining good nutrition is still important even once your little angel is born and he continues to get nourishment from you.

By continuing to eat a balanced diet and supplementing it with a good maternity milk, you can rest assured that you are doing the best by your baby and yourself in terms of health.

Why are prebiotics so important for your baby's health? Find out on the next slide.

Continuing baby’s good nutrition through his first 1000 days

Remember how we told you earlier that your baby’s first 1000 days go right up to his second birthday? As this period is so intrinsically linked with your little one’s growth and development, providing him with proper nutrition is very important.

Mums, once your little one starts solids, keep giving him a healthy selection of food and drink rich in vitamins and minerals. Keep this up until his second birthday (and beyond) and you can rest assured that you have set up good eating habits for life.

Remember to include plenty of vegetables and fruit, as well as appropriate types of fish and meat in his diet. Food and drinks rich in prebiotics are especially helpful during the 1000 day period to support your baby’s healthy gut and total well-being.

You will find prebiotics (non-digestible fibres) in food such as bananas, berries and whole grains, as well as certain products such as yoghurt and milk.

One more useful slide, mums. Click 'next' now.

The gift of health is for life

Mums, as we wrap up this journey through your child's first 1000 days and the importance of good nutrition, there’s no doubt that this time period in your child's life is truly significant, and has the ability to set him up for a healthy life.

Good health is an extraordinarily precious gift that a mother can give her child, and we hope the information in this article helps you do exactly this.

Do visit the Dumex website to find out more about good nutrition for both baby and mummy.

This article is brought to you by Danone Dumex®.
Danone Dumex® is part of Nutricia, #1 Baby Milk company in Europe^
We have been focusing our scientific and clinical expertise on gut health for the last 40 years. Danone Dumex® is committed to supporting little guts by continuous improvement, to help maintain the overall health and well-being of babies.
^ Danone Nutricia ELN is the first Ranked Milk Formula manufacturer both in Sales Value and Sales Volume for these 9 countries (UK, DE, NL, IRL, PL, BEL, CZE/SLO and ROM) during the MAT period Dec 2015.

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Written by
Nalika Unantenne

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The power of your baby's first 1000 days

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